ARLINGTON, Virginia — BAE Systems, Inc. and L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) today announced that L-3 Link Simulation & Training, a division of L-3 Communications, is joining the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) team as an exclusive partner to compete for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X program.

As a principal supplier to BAE Systems, Inc., L-3 Link will lead the design and integration of the Hawk AJTS Ground Based Training System (GBTS) for the United States Air Force. The team plans to offer the Hawk AJTS as the replacement of the venerable, but aging, T-38 trainer. The Hawk AJTS will be uniquely tailored to meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force, manufactured in the United States, with the involvement of a strong U.S. supply chain.

“L-3 Link’s extensive experience in working with the U.S. Air Force, coupled with the company’s training and simulation expertise, makes it the perfect choice to lead the work on our Ground Based Training System. L-3 Link further underpins the strength of the Hawk AJTS team in this procurement,” said Robert Wood, Vice President and lead for BAE Systems’ Hawk Advanced Jet Training System Team. “We firmly believe that L-3 Link will help deliver an enhanced training experience for AETC pilots as a key member of our team.”

“Our team is well-positioned to develop a next generation Ground Based Training System that strongly complements BAE Systems’ overall Hawk AJTS solution,” said Leonard Genna, president of L-3 Link. “We will apply the experience we have gained as the world leader in fighter simulation to develop a T-X Ground Based Training System that enables the U.S. Air Force to reduce costs and create training efficiencies by enhancing key training tasks across the spectrum, from the aircraft to advanced simulation and training systems.”

L-3 Link is the world leader in the number of military flight simulation systems that remain actively in service today. This includes being the world’s leading supplier of advanced F-22, F/A-18 and F-16 simulator systems, which employ technologies today that are directly applicable to the T-X program. Link’s total training systems expertise encompasses a number of programs and is built on a foundation of strong program management, comprehensive instructional systems development, innovative training devices, expert instruction and concurrency management between the training system and aircraft.

L-3 Link Simulation & Training joins BAE Systems, Inc. and Northrop Grumman as the latest member of the Hawk AJTS team. In September 2011, BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman announced an exclusive strategic partnership to compete in the USAF T-X program. Northrop Grumman will serve as the manufacturing partner. Northrop Grumman is the original manufacturer of the T-38.

The Hawk AJTS effectively integrates live and synthetic air and ground based elements to successfully train pilots for 5th generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor. It is the world’s only fully-integrated off-the-shelf system in service today, ready now to train U.S. Air Force combat pilots.

More than just an aircraft, the Hawk AJTS teaches student pilots how to address the critical flow of information, learn to interpret it correctly and make the right decisions to maintain operational advantage. This proven, low-cost, low-risk 5th generation training system consists of three critical components to provide cost-effective training to prepare fighter and bomber pilots:

• A flexible, adaptable Enterprise Learning Architecture (ELA);

• A Ground Based Training System (GBTS) that delivers the right skills through a blended live/virtual environment; and

• A proven aircraft that can adapt, evolve and deliver the live element of training to meet end-user requirements by cost-effectively emulating front line platforms with no new maintenance skills.

Almost 1,000 Hawk aircraft have been sold across the world, helping produce highly trained pilots for 25 countries, for newest generation aircraft such as Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II, and Gripen. The Hawk is the future lead-in trainer for the F-35 for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the UK, Canada, and Australia. The Hawk aircraft has active production lines around the world. USAF Hawks will be built in the United States.